ashthomas//blog: Daniel Handler Interview

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Tuesday, November 22, 2005

Daniel Handler Interview

An amusing and interesting conversation with Daniel Handler (aka Lemony Snicket) is up at The Onion's AV Club. He discusses the film version of his books, how he came about to write them, and about their reception. The funniest part is about an appearance Handler made at a bookstore:

AVC: When you do public readings, you appear as Daniel Handler, and tell the audience that Lemony Snicket met some kind of horrible fate on the way over. Do kids generally seem to get the joke, or do you have to deal with weeping children who've just basically been told, "Oh dear, you just missed Santa Claus, and then he got eaten by a bear"?

DH: For the most part, it seems that children are quite used to adults standing in front of them, calling for attention, and telling them a complete lie. So they usually have figured out what the gig is. The problem is actually more with adults. I was once almost forced off the stage at a large chain bookstore that shall remain nameless, because she introduced me as Lemony Snicket, and I immediately interrupted her and said, "Oh no, Lemony Snicket isn't here," and then she tried to cancel the event right then and there.

AVC: Did she not get it, or did she just not like the approach?

DH: She didn't get it. Upon questioning on another matter, she also was not aware that Canada was a different country from the United States. Whatever that may say about bookstore managers, she was the most trouble I ever had.

He goes on to talk about the nature of pseudonymous writing and irony. Quite interesting.

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